Confirmed Line-Ups: Aston Villa vs Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City take on Aston Villa on matchday nine of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Blues climbed to second place in the table after Erling Haaland’s brace secured a 2-0 win over Everton last weekend, with Sunderland’s 2-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday pipping the newly-promoted side to second place ahead of Sunday’s 14:00 UK kick-off.

City are in a rich vein of form and have avoided defeat in all competitions in eight games since the end of August, with Haaland’s goals routinely bailing the Blues out of jail in recent months and forcing City back into the conversation for the Premier League title.

Pep Guardiola welcomed Abdukodir Khusanov back to training ahead of the trip to the east Midlands but the Uzbekistan international will not be available to face Aston Villa, who secured a 2-1 win over Manchester City in the fixture last term.

City are also missing Ballon d’Or winning midfielder Rodri, who is yet to recover from a hamstring injury sustained in a 1-0 win away at Brentford at the start of the month, with Nico Gonzalez also doubtful after going off injured in a 2-0 UEFA Champions League group-stage win over Villarreal in midweek.

Should Gonzalez be deemed unfit to start on Sunday, Mateo Kovacic could make his first start for Manchester City in five months against Aston Villa, having made his long-awaited return to the pitch last weekend against Everton after missing the start of the season with rehabilitation following surgery on his Achilles in the summer.

Elsewhere, Omar Marmoush could get some minutes in the locker after replacing Savinho late on against Villarreal on Tuesday and Manchester City fans will also be excited to see Rayan Cherki in action after the 22-year-old’s brilliant cameo against Everton last time out in the Premier League.

City can keep up the pressure on title rivals and league leaders Arsenal with three points against Unai Emery’s side, who will undoubtedly prove a difficult test for the in-form Blues, who are looking to mount a serious title challenge this season.

Ahead of Sunday’s 14:00 UK kick-off between Aston Villa and Manchester City, here are the confirmed lineups from both dressing rooms.

Aston Villa

Starting XI – Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Onana, Kamara, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins

Substitutes – Bizot, Lindelof, Maatsen, Mings, Bogarde, Barkley, Guessand, Malen, Sancho

Manchester City

Starting XI – Donnarumma, Nunes, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol, Reijnders, Silva, Bobb, Foden, Savinho, Haaland

Substitutes – Trafford, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Cherki, Doku, Nico, O’Reilly, Lewis